The American Baptist Historical Society is the oldest Baptist

Baptist

Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...

 historical society

Historical society

A historical society is an organization that collects, researches, interprets and preserves information or items of historical interest. Generally, a historical society focuses on a specific geographical area, such as a county or town or subject, such as aviation or rail. Many historical...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

History

It was created in 1853 after the instigation of John Mason Peck

John Mason Peck

John Mason Peck was an American Baptist missionary to the western frontier of the United States, especially in Missouri.-Biography:...

. In 1862, it was chartered under the laws of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. In 1896, a fire destroyed the archives. That same year, Samuel Colgate

Samuel Colgate

Samuel Colgate , son of William Colgate , was an American manufacturer and philanthropist, born in New York City. He became widely known as a soap maker, and the manufactory he built in Jersey City developed into one of the largest establishments of its kind in the world. He was also prominent in...

 gave his personal collection to Colgate University

Colgate University

Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...

. In 1948, it was moved to Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School is a theological college of Baptist origins. The present day school, which sits on the top of a hill in the beautiful setting of Highland Park in Rochester, New York is a product of several mergers....

. In 1984, the official records were moved to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The Village of Valley Forge is an unincorporated settlement located on the west side of Valley Forge National Historical Park at the confluence of Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania, United States. The remaining village is in Schuylkill Township of Chester County, but once...

. In 2008, it was moved to the campus of Mercer University

Mercer University

Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...

, in Atlanta, Georgia.